2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC problems, complaints & recalls
NHTSA has received 99 owner complaints about the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC, or 11.4 per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.27, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 73 model-year 2018 vehicles we track, it ranks #17 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Mercedes-Benz models its rate is 11% higher; against other Luxury SUVs it is 24% lower.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Complaints filed between 2018-02-02 and 2026-07-30. Median delay from incident to filing: 7 days.
Analysis
The following model year (2019) drew 8.9 per year, fewer than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2018 model collected 20 complaints, 78% lower than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Engine (32.3% of complaints), followed by Interior & equipment (16.2%) and Airbags & seat belts (13.1%). Within Engine reports, owners most often mention “crankcase”, “ventilation”, “code”, “valve” and “engine light”. 6 reports (6.1%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 4 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 64 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was after five years (61% of incidents). 10 complaints were filed in the last 12 months.
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for this model year. 1 NHTSA defect investigation covers this model year; the most recent is “Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture” (opened 2021-09-17, still open).
Complaint index
- vs. all tracked vehicles0.27
- vs. other Mercedes-Benz models1.11
- vs. other 2018 models0.23
- vs. other Luxury SUVs0.76
- Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (20)0.22
- #17 of 73 · 2018Rankings ›
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road.
What owners complain about
vs. all vehicles: 1.00 = All-vehicle average
Engine · Common terms in reports
- crankcase12
- ventilation8
- code14
- valve10
- engine light12
- regulator4
Interior & equipment · Common terms in reports
- crankcase5
- ventilation3
- valve4
- wear3
- gas pedal3
- malfunction4
Airbags & seat belts · Common terms in reports
- latch plates3
- paneling3
- belt latch3
- seat7
- belts4
- bag4
Problem areas: Engine · Electrical · Interior & equipment · Body & structure
When complaints were filed
- Crashes reported: 5
- Fires reported: 1
- Injuries: 4
- Deaths: 0
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 64 months
What owners report
I was backing out of my driveway and was putting the car in Drive when the airbag located in my steering wheel deployed without a reason. The car has not been inspected by anyone as of today.
I hydroplaned when driving in rainy weather and slid across freeway. Apparently break assist activated and automatically applied break. The car spun around and hit concrete barrier and then slid again across the freeway.
Error code P052E71 on a 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4MATIC means the Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) Regulator Valve Performance has a malfunction, specifically that the partial-load ventilation valve actuator is blocked.
Component Failure: The vehicle is equipped with the M274 2.0L turbocharged engine, which suffered a major internal mechanical defect.
Safety Issue: Infotainment display screen produces scrambled pixels during Apple CarPlay navigation while driving. Description: When Apple CarPlay is connected and navigation is in use, the vehicle's infotainment display screen suddenly produces scrambled…
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · 2018 · Luxury SUVs
| Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE | 56 | 6.5 | 0.15 |
| 2018 BMW X5 | 70 | 8.1 | 0.19 |
| 2018 BMW X3 | 73 | 8.4 | 0.2 |
| 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC | 99 | 11.4 | 0.27 |
| 2018 Audi Q7 | 141 | 16.3 | 0.39 |
| 2018 Acura MDX | 165 | 19.0 | 0.45 |
| 2018 Audi Q5 | 201 | 23.2 | 0.55 |
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year.
Investigations
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture Open
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupt…
Frequently asked questions
How many complaints were filed for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC?
99 complaints were filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC, or about 11.4 per year on the road.
What is the most common problem reported for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC?
The most common category is Engine, accounting for 32.3% of complaints.
Does the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC have any recalls?
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for this model year. 1 NHTSA defect investigation covers this model year; the most recent is “Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture” (opened 2021-09-17, still open).
Is the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC still generating complaints?
10 complaints were filed in the last 12 months.
How does the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC compare with similar vehicles?
NHTSA has received 99 owner complaints about the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC, or 11.4 per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.27, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 73 model-year 2018 vehicles we track, it ranks #17 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Mercedes-Benz models its rate is 11% higher; against other Luxury SUVs it is 24% lower.